Disk harrow



S. J. MILLER DISK HARROW Feb. 27, 1940.

Filed May 5, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY d IIYVEIYTOR 2 Samuel \lahmfon miller Feb. 27, 1940. 5.4. MILLER 2,191,537

' DISK HARROW Filed May 5, 1958 s Sheets-Shet 2 -55- I mvzwroz Samuel JMMZ'o Z 7771/1- ATTORNEY Feb. 27, 1940 s. J. MILLER DISK HARROW Filed May 5, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 :11 van ro/e 5a m uel Jokwfon [Filler Patented Feb. 27, 1940 tam was

T E it if i DIS-K1 minnow Samuel Johnston Miller, Corpus Christi, Tex,

assigncr of fifty per cent to Fleury-Bissell Limited, Elora, Ontario, Canada,

porate'd company an incor- Application May*5, '1938,;Serial No. 206,142

rowiand is particularly directed towards that type offmultiple unit harrow commonly kn'ownas in the novel manner in which I hingedly attach each harrow unit to the main frame, orto the tractor-draw bar as specific conditions warrant,

so that it is held firmly in fixed-position insofar as horizontal and vertical angularity, I tillage depthand side sway are concerned and, at the same time, each unit is free to rise over any obstru'cti'ons, such as rocks, independently of the other units thereby avoiding possibility of dam- .26" ageftothe "disks, or all the units may be raised simultaneously from contact with the ground for such purposes'as turning or moving-when v not'inuse."

'A' further feature of my invention resides in 25 the construction of each unit so that the horizontal and/or the vertical angle formed between each unit and the direction of movementof fthe harrow may be adjusted independently of' the 7 other units and when adjusted is held firmly in fix'ed fposition. Astill further feature of my invention resides" iii the novel arrangement of i the main frame, or tractor draw bar as the case may be, whichpermits the independent raising and lowering of each harrow unit without causing any twisting of the frame members or any angular displacement of theremainder, of theunits. A clearunderstanding of the above features and the manner in which I attain them may be I 10; hadfrom the following description and accompanying drawings in which like reference character's're'fer to like parts throughout.

Figure l is a rear View of a tractordrawn multiple unit harrow embodying my invention.

45 Figure 21s a side elevation of the modification Figure 6 is a detail View of the universal joint construction.

Figure '7 is a rear view of a single unit. 'FigureB is a side elevation taken from the opposite side to that shown in Figure 3.

-A *principal feature of my invention resides Q is a strut i.

, v v 6 Claims. (oi; 55-73) "1* My invention relates to an improved disk har- Figure 9 is a detail'view ofthe hingedsuspen sionmeans, shown slightly-in perspective.

I Figure is a plan View showing the disk har-" I row units attached directly to the rear of a tractor.

' In the preferred embodiment of my invention described and illustrated herein the multiple unit harrow is adapted toxbe attached to and drawn by a tractor. I I

The multiple unit harrow consists of a number of disk units 3 individually and hingedly suspended from and carried by a main frame construction in the following manner."

-The main frame is formed preferably in twd sections constructed of 1 angle. iron sufiiciently heavy to Withstand the stresses and strains to which it is subjected; Each section is constructed with sidemembers 5 and 6 which convergeftowards and are joined at the front in sub- 'stantially a V-ShapeJ 'The sides 5, 6 are joined at the rear bya cross member 8 and in the mid.

dle by an intermediate cross member 15. The

cross member I by'means of the pivot 50. The

rearcross members '8 are hingedly connected together at the 'rear'bymeans of the-pivot 46. e

The sections'are supported on wheels 41. 1

In the preferred embodiment of my invention described and illustrated herein,the multiple unit harrow is constructed with eight individual disk units,one of which is hingedly attached to the front cross member 1, two are hingedlyattached to the intermediate cross members 55 and five are hingedly attached'tothe rear cross memhers.

Each disk unit 3 in this instance is carried by a diskunit frame comprising side'members l6 and I1 and a-rear cross member l8. An intermediate cross member i9 is connected to-the members it, H in front of the member I6 forming a platform lt adapted to receive a load, such a s-a Sandbag, to ensure sufiicient weight on the unitto force the disks into the member i3 atits juncture with the member-1i Each disk unit frame secured to its proper cross member of the main is preferably hingedly frame in the following manner. The cross meme.

her i is provided with a pair of lugs 35 spaced apartso that theside memberslfi, i! will engage between the inner faces of the lugs. Each of the cross members l5 are provided with a pair of lugs spaced similarly to those with which the cross member 1 is provided. The cross members 8 are provided with five pairs of similarly spaced lugs 35, each pair being positioned on the cross bars 8 substantially as shown in Figure 3. The rearwardly projecting parts of the lugs 35 are formed with a bolt hole and the forward ends of the members 16, I! are formed with a bolt hole which mates with the bolt hole in the lugs. A bolt M is entered through the bolt holes in the lugs and the forward end of the members I6, ll, thereby hingedly securing the cross member..

disk unit frame to its proper This hinged connection permits the vertical movement of each unit, either deliberately as shall be set out hereinafter, or independently to raise the unit to pass over any obstruction Each axle II is attached to the lowergend of strut 5| by means of a universal joint 23 so that the horizontal and vertical angular disposition of each disk unit may be changed or adjusted to the particular form of tillage desired by the operator. The universal joint 23 may be any one of several different types, but I prefer to use that form illus trated in Figure 6 of the drawings. In this construction the end of the axle adjacent the strut 5| is journalled in a bearing 24 which has or is provided with a forwardly extending plate 28. One. end'of an L-bolt 21 is passed through the plate 28 and secured to that plate by means of a nut 29. The other end of the L-bolt is passed through a plate 30 mounted on the lower end of the strut 5| and secured to the plateby means of a nut 3|. It is necessary to brace the strut 5! and for this purpose a fixed stay rod 25 is provided, one end of which is secured to the front end of the member I! and the other end issecured to the plate 30. provided, one end of which is attached to the front end of the member [6 and the other end is secured to the fixed stay rod at or near the plate 30. v

The horizontal angularity of the axle relative to the direction of movement of the harrow is adjusted by the following means. Fulcrumed on and near the forward end of the member I6 is a lever 20 which is adapted to beheld in different positions by means of a sextant 2| secured to the member 16. Movementv of the lever 20 istransmitted to the axle by means of aconnecting rod 26 one end of which is connected to the lower end of the lever and the other is connected to the end of the axle remote from the universal joint 23. It is therefore apparent that movement. of the lever 20 will change the horizontal angularity of the axle relative to the direction of the harrow.

e The axle may also be adjusted in a vertical direction, that is angularly to the horizontal plane of the axle. This is accomplished by the following mechanism. For this purpose a chain 32 is provided and one endof the chain is attached to the side member l6 by means of a clamp 33 and the other end may either be at- 36 by means of a cable 31.

- are hinged together.

supported in a manner which permits the mov- A second stay rod is also tached to the end of the axle remote from the universal joint 23 or secured to the end of the I connecting rod 26 adjacent to the axle II, as shown in Figure 4. The end of the axle remote from the universal joint 23 may be readily raised or lowered by lengthening or shortenin the chain 32, the movement being-permitted by pivoting on the universal joint 32.

The following means are provided for thepurcable 3'! is connected to one end of a chain or cable 39, the other end of which is connected to a drum (not shown) operated by a powertake of! drive with which the usual tractor is provided, orv it may be attached to a hand operated drumif the latter is not available. By turning thedrllm in one direction, the disking units will simultaneously raise from the ground and by rotating ;the': drum in the opposite direction, the disking units will be returned to the ground. Y

A draw bar 40 extends from the front of. the. front member 1 to. the tractor draw bar, the connection between which is preferably pivotal" to permit extremely short turns.

The front end of the e The main frame is provided with axles 42 on 2 which are mounted side wheels 4| and the cross member 8 is. preferably further supported on wheel 41 at the point where the sections thereof The main frame is thus ing of the harrow without having the disks on the ground and in operation preventsany sidesway of the gangs due to obstructions or thrust ofthe frame but ensures that the harrow, will move It will be apparentthat; it is in .a straight line.

necessary to move the multiple unit disk harrow in a straight line for setting out rows and in cultivating row crops. Under ordinary working conditions, however, this has not been possible heretofore.

In operation, the main frame moves on the.

wheels M and 41. The disks of each individual unit move through the soil being tilled, the depth (no-t shown) may be combined with the hinged f connection 34 to serve the same purpose as weights. e

The horizontal and vertical angular disposition of each unit is dependent on the purpose ofthe tillage. out rows, say for the planting of cotton, thevertical and horizontal angularity of the units are adjusted to build the rows to the desired width and height. For growing row crops. the disks may be set to throw the soil away from the plants or hill the soil up to them. In this latter position, only the horizontal angle of the disks-is changed. It will be understood, of course, that all changes necessary for the various operations the For example, for the purpose of setting are made by merely changing the gang assem-- bly to the desired position which is provided for in the main frame. For example, a crossmember may be attached to the rear of the main frame adjustments.

and is so placed as to drag on the ground, when the harrow is in use, to level off the top of the row so made, and the usual marker Outlining the position of the'next row to guide the operator.

I have found that my improved harrow overcomes the shortcomings inherent in the gang harrows used heretofore. For example, it may be readily changed from a general purpose harrow or tillage implement to a single purpose im plement by several simple and easily executed The facility with which it is raised from the ground, either as an individual unit when an obstruction is encountered, or all the units raised simultaneously, permits extremely short turns, or, when moving when not in use, ensures a long life resulting from the removal of unnecessary stresses and strains which are other wise set up in the machines. It is very easily operated and through'its construction is ideally adapted for not only generaltillage purposes but also'for layinglout fields in rows preparatory to planting.

It will be apparent, of course, that modifications may be made in the preferred embodiment ample, a number of disk harrow units may be hingedly attached directly to the tractor, as shown in Figure 10, thus doing away with the necessity of providing a main frame in certain specific instances. This and other modifications may be made without departing from the scope of .the appended. claims. 1

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A multiple unit harrow comprising a main frame, a supporting axle and wheels mounted on said axle, a series of disk harrow units hingedly attached to said main frame, each of said units comprising a frame, a supporting axle and a plurality of disks mounted on said axle, a universal joint approximate to one end of said lastmentioned axle, means for adjusting the horizontal and vertical angles of each disk unit relative to the direction of movement of said harrow by pivoting said axle on said universal joint and means for securing said axle firmly in its adjusted position.

2. A multiple unit harrow comprising a main frame, a supporting axle and wheels mounted on said axle, a series of disk harrow units hingedly attached to said main frame, each of said units comprising a frame, a supporting axle and a plurality of disks mounted on said axle, means for adjusting the horizontal angles of each disk unit relative to the line of drive comprising a universal joint approximate to one end of said lastmen'tioned axle, a fixed stay rod secured to said unit frame and said universal joint, a lever ac.

versal joint approximate to one end of said lastmentioned axle, lever actuated connecting rod means adapted to adjust the horizontal angle of said disk unit relative to the direction of movement of said harrow and means for simultane ously raising or lowering all the disk units on the main frame out of or into contact with the soil.

l. A multiple unit harrow comprising a main frame, a supporting axle "and wheels mounted on said axle, a plurality of disk harrow units,

each unit comprising a unit frame hingedly cohnected to the main frame for up and downmovement, a supporting axle and a plurality of disks mounted on said axle, a universal joint at oneend of said axle" connecting it to the unit frame, a fixed stay rod secured to the unit frame and said universal joint, a lever actuated connecting rod fixed approximate to the end of said axle remote from said universal joint for adjusting the angle of said axle relative to the direction of move-'v ment of said harrow, means for holding said. lever actuated connecting rod firmly in adjusted posi-' tion, and means for adjusting each unit axle in a vertical direction. v

5. A multiple unit harrow comprising, a main frame, a supporting axle and wheels mounted on said axle, a plurality of disk harrow units each of said units comprising a unit frame hingedly connected to the main frame for up and down i movement, a supporting axle pivotally connected to the unit frame, a plurality of discs mounted on said axle, means for adjusting the angle of each disk unit relative to the direction of movement of said harrow, andmeans for adjusting each unit in a vertical direction.

6. A multiple unit harrow comprising a main,

SAMUEL JOHNSTON MILLER; 

